DAY 634 - Cherish Every Chance to Do God's Work (請按此處收聼廣東話Cantonese podcast click here)

Want to know why I have been writing and recording my blogs and podcast daily since August 10, 2009? Click these three links:

Confirmation from John Stott in 2009: 
http://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009_07_01_archive.html
My MicroMacro Discipleship, A missing DNA in Discipleship Development: http://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/07/introduction-micromacro-discipleship.html
Subject Shifting Devotion Method(Inspired by John Stott in 1991: http://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/08/count-down-5-subject-shifting-devotion.html

                               Today's Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

** If you would like to learn a simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please read my “Count Down 5” from my Devotion on Fire blog:

http://bishopsilas.blogspot.ca/2009/08/count-down-5-subject-shifting-devotion.html

To use this simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please click this link:

 .Subject Shifting Devotion.pdf

Please click this link to read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

English(ESV): http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1 Thessalonians 4&version=ESV

Chinese: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=帖 撒 羅 尼 迦 前 書 4&version=CUV

Bible Study

     Some people thinks this passage talks about 'the rapture', with people being suddenly snatched out of homes, jobs, cars and aeroplanes, leaving those who are not faithful and non-believers to have the last chance to repent. But, Bishop N.T. Wright does not think so.  

Bishop N.T. Wright says ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N._T._Wright ) :
     The key is to realize what resurrection itself means: it doesn't mean disembodied life in some mid-air 'heaven', but the re-embodiment of God's people to live with and for God in the new, redeemed world that God will make…
     So when Paul talks of Christians 'being snatched up among the clouds', he is again not thinking of a literal vertical ascent.  The language here is taken from Daniel 7, where 'one like a son of man' goes up on the clouds as he is vindicated by God after his suffering - a wonderful image not least for people like the Thessalonians who were suffering persecution and awaiting God's vindication.  And their 'meeting' with the Lord doesn't mean they will then be staying in mid-air with him. 

N.T. Wright. Paul for Everyone:Galatians and Thessalonians. Louisville,KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004, p.125.

      What kind of insight have you got? What if God wants you to finish your job on earth today, are you ready? Are you prepared? 

      
Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage we have just read. Offer this time up to Jesus as you listen to him, while listening to "Gabriel's Oboe":  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmax47l2hLU

Spiritual Journal

    The title I heard from Jesus today is: Cherish every chance to do God's work

    What I got from Jesus today is an invitation to enter into that kind of preparation to live a life pleasing God so that any time God calls you home you are ready. 

     This includes what Paul says in the beginning of this chapter:
1. To be holy (4:1-8)
2. Good us of your money to show your love (4:9-12)

     Do it right now before it is too late! The date may come any time, especially when you are not expected!  

Dear Lord Jesus,

Lead us to cherish every chance to do your work, to be holy and to use our money for your Kingdom ministries In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Please click this link to worship with us -

從心合一

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJWZQyLzDRQ

10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) Matt Redman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXDGE_lRI0E

You may choose to follow my other daily blog: 

Daily Devotion on Fire 2(2 years plan -One year New Testament, one year Old Testament): 

http://bishopsilas2.blogspot.ca/

Daily Devotion on Fire (3 years and 3 months plan, one chapter a day to finish reading the whole Bible): 

http://bishopsilas.blogspot.ca/

Break.Build (40 days daily devotion- For Renewal or First Step for new Christians): http://www.breakbuild.blogspot.ca/

Emmanuel330 (40 weeks First Step Bible Study): 

http://emmanuel330.blogspot.ca/

This blog:

Discipler 123 (Daily devotion using N.T. Wright's NT for Everyone as source)

http://discipler123.blogspot.ca/